X FACTOR winner Shayne Ward has admitted he was terrified of the public backlash before he made his debut on Coronation Street.

Ward (30), who shot to fame when he won the singing competition in 2005, was in Dublin yesterday to help launch UTV Ireland's winter season of programmes.

dream

Being from Manchester, landing the role of half-Irish heart-throb Aidan Connor was a dream come true.

But he admitted he was nervous about acting after the criticism former Girls Aloud star Sarah Harding, received when she appeared on the show earlier this year.

"Without a doubt I was nervous. I've known Sarah for years and I feel really sorry for her about the backlash she got. At the end of the day, I think you're always going to be pigeon-holed when you're coming from a different side of the industry," he told the Herald.

"I'm a singer going into acting, but what an iconic show it is. Everyone's waiting to nit-pick, and unfortunately Sarah got that side. So when my first episode aired I was terrified."

Ward feels more confident after his first foray into soap acting went well.

"It's one thing to be a newbie, but to be actually given lines was amazing. I loved it," he said outside the Bath Pub on Bath Avenue, which had been done up to look like the Rovers Return. "It was a special moment last night, everything went smoothly and there were major celebrations after."

Much like his character on the show, Ward has Irish roots and admitted he wouldn't rule out moving here one day.

With both his parents hailing from these shores, he said he was delighted to be back in his "home away from home".

"I'm here all the time. I've got my Irish passport, actually. I always want to use it when I'm over here," he said.

"I love it. My whole family were born and bred here. I've always wanted to move here since I was a kid - my mum was going to bring us over here when I was 10.

"Maybe in the future I would love to just settle down somewhere Ireland."

It's not just an Irish move the actor is considering - the singleton also hinted he will be using dating app Tinder during his stay here.

"I've gone on Tinder and it's a laugh," he said. "I'm single and I've been doing it for two years. If the signal is strong enough I might be able to Tinder in Dublin."